[nabs-l] Ending the NFB/ACB feud

[T. Joseph Carter]

Aziza,

One reason happened this morning on the ACB's Oregon list.

You saw the press release about the closing of the Oregon School for 
the Blind, severe cuts to our local ESDs, and now closing the Oregon 
Commission for the Blind.

In Oregon, we have been working with the ACB to save our school.  
Today, the venom they are directing at us over the press release is 
almost inconceivable.

There was an audit of our commission.  The audit found major 
problems.  We were told by people in a position to know that the 
Governor hit the roof when he saw the audit.  The audit was covered 
in the local media, including an example of a $61,000 bike trip for 
two clients, seventeen employees, and volunteers.  The very next day, 
our governor announces that he's closing the commission.

According to the ACB, closing the commission is not about the audit.  
They're attacking us for saying it is.  And if it is about the audit, 
they blame the NFB for the audit.  Rather than trying to work to save 
our commission, they are vilifying us.

Now maybe I'm cynical, but that's just typical of them.  They'd 
rather attack us for suggesting that someone at the agency screwed up 
than attack the governor for using this as a pretext to eliminate the 
agency.  We didn't even suggest someone at the agency screwed up, 
either--the state concluded as much.

How do you have a partnership with someone who vilifies you at every 
opportunity?  It's great to sit around and say, "Can't we all just 
get along?!"  Doing that depends on trust, and I don't have any.  Not 
when the very people you want me to partner with are trying to 
assassinate my character while you're suggesting it.

Joseph


On Mon, May 18, 2009 at 09:56:42AM -0700, Aziza C wrote:
>Joesiph,
>Two people refusing to try will get us no where, just because they
>want to destroy us, doesn't mean that's our final stop. And, you did
>say that it isn't the entire ACB, why not work with those willing to
>work with us?
>Aziza